§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it has been brought to his notice that certain medical officers, who entered the Royal Navy in 1878, and went through the 128 days' course of 977 Naval and Military hygiene at Netley (at that time compulsory) on half-pay, have not been allowed to count that time for promotion, while others who joined the service some months later, and were given direct commissions afloat, in consequence of what was then known as the Russian war scare, the hygiene course in their case being dispensed with for the time, have been promoted over the heads of the former, through the latter having more full pay time; and whether, in order to remedy this, he will consider the advisability of altering the rules of the Service, so that the period of training at Netley Hospital may reckon as Naval service for all purposes, and so that the prospects of these senior officers for promotion from the rank of Fleet Surgeon to that of Deputy Inspector-General may not be prejudiced?
§ MR. MACARTNEYCertain medical officers were entered for immediate service in 1878, and did not go through the usual course at Netley. One of these officers, after serving afloat, applied to be allowed to go through the course, and his time was allowed to count as a special case, as his application was a voluntary act, and made under the impression that it would count. It is not considered desirable to alter the rules, but directions have been given that when the time approaches for the promotion of the officers entered in 1878 to the rank of Deputy-Inspector-General, their positions on the list shall be considered.
§ CAPTAIN NORTONMay we take it for granted that these officers will not be prejudiced as regards promotion?
§ MR. MACARTNEYYes, I think that that may be inferred for the answer.